Sunday 19 April 2015

A Box for my Craft Parts

Hello dear blogfriends, thanks for dropping by here.
Today I am super exited to share not just a new project with you but also to announce the starting of a new and exciting venture.

Some of you may have heard this already, but I am just so happy to tell you that after the sad destruction by fire of the wonderful Calico Crafts shop, they have now re-started under a new name and are concentrating on making their wonderful Calico Craft Parts. There are new and exciting designs appearing almost every day, you can check them out HERE

I was lucky enough to be invited back on their Design Team, and here is my first project, showing some of these fantastic new designs (and using some old ones too):
With so many new designs, of course I needed a place to keep them, so decided to alter a box for my first project to keep them all in.
The parts I used in this project were: Ornate Keys (set of two) and the Fleur de Lis Decorative Woodshapes. I also used the frame in which the adorable little hearts come. Of course I used the hearts themselves too, but those will be shown in a future project.

Now I'll give you a quick step by step on how I altered my box and rusted up the craft parts:
I started with a plain paper mache book box and covered it with strips of tissue paper for texture:
Next I added a layer of Gesso, added some Decoart Crackle paint and then coated everything with a coat of Decoart Chalky Finish Paint in the colour Serene (light blue).
.
The spine of my box had some strips added already, but I decided to add some more decorative elements to them, so I added some hessian ribbon:
Then the aging process began. First some different colours of Blue Decoart Media fluid acrylics
Then some Burnt Umber and Paines Grey Media fluid acrylics
And finally several layers of Antiquing Creams, both in white and Verdigris. I also highlighted the raised bits with Treasure Gold in the colour Onyxite, which looks great in real life, but was impossible to capture properly in my photos.
Here is what the spine looks like now:
Now to the Craft Part. They come looking like this:
Pretty gorgeous already, I love the burnt edges, and of course could have left them like this. But I wanted a rust effect for this project. So I first coated them with Decoart Media Texture Sand Paste, followed by Quin. Gold and Quin Burnt Orange applied in patches.
.

Next they were darkened with Burnt Umber and then Antiques with Antiquing Cream in Verdigris:
Here is a close up of one of the keys:
The heart backing and the little hearts were all given the same treatment and then adhered to the box:
I fastened the keys to their backing with a bit of rusty wire:
The back and inside were all done in a similar way also, but as this post is long enough as it is already, I'll leave it with that.
For the moment Calico Craft Parts does not have a blog yet, so the DT are showing projects on their own blogs, but you may want to check out their Facebook page  and Pinterest Boards, to see many inspiring examples of how these Craft Parts can be used.
Thank you for visiting like always and have a wonderful week!!

44 comments:

massofhair said...

Huge Congrats Astrid on being back on the CC DT!!!

Stunning new box decorated and so beautifully. Loving the colours and textures very much.

Looking forward to more CC blog posts, enjoy your Sunday:-) xxx

Margaret Mifsud said...

What wonderful news!! So good to hear that CC has started up again Astrid and absolutely fantastic that you are on the Team again!! Congratulations!! Stunning altered book!! Love the colour and the fabulous texture .. absolutely brilliant project!! xx

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

Great pictures of the making of this lovely box Astrid!
Greetings, Alie :-)

Fliss said...

What a stunning box Astrid! Love all the detail and a wonderful way to store your craft part embellishments too. Might have to do something similar for mine :)
Fliss xx

Rupa Swaminathan said...

Wow! Great texture on the lid and those rusted embellishments are just amazing!

Anneke said...

Astrid this looks gorgeous. It looks so real.
You are so good in making things look very
old. Wonderful thanks for letting me enjoy.
Anneke

Patty O'Malley said...

Congratulations on being back with the team! I love your box! The texture and colors are amazing. The keys, hinges and heart frame are gorgeous.

Samra said...

Stunning transformation Astrid! Love the textures and choice of colors.

Barbara Rankin said...

Love your altered box and I always enjoy learning from your step by step. TFS

Kathy Bradley said...

The book box is so very, very gorgeous. The chipboard, once you finished the transformation, looked like they came from buried deep in the sea - the pieces are beautiful. I am saving the step-by-step tutorial to give this a try. And, congratulations regarding Calico Crafts. How said about the tragic fire - but it's wonderful they are rebounding. Thanks for sharing.

experiments in paper said...

GORGEOUS, Astrid!! I absolutely love your texture, and your alterations of the Calico Craft parts are FANTASTIC! What a lovely one for your stash of parts, old and new! So glad Calico Crafts is back - I see so many wonderful projects from your part of the world using them :-) xxx Lynn

Valerie-Jael said...

Fantastic box, love all the gorgeous detais, congrats on your new 'job'! Valerie

toni said...

That's great news all round Astrid ! I love your project fabulous paint treatment and wonderful rusting ! I'll definitely be hopping over and supporting Calico Crafts Toni x

Unknown said...

Fabulous project, great to see the process in pictures. Well done on your news.

Jane said...

What a great box, gorgeous texture Astrid. Many congrats on being invited onto their team....lucky you to be able to play with all their goodies! x

Nikki Acton said...

Great ageing Astrid - the key and other embellies look sensational! got a few Deco Art bits so may give it a go with a bit of improvisation. Wonderful Calico are back.. had only just discovered them when the fire happened. Nxx

Meggymay said...

Congratulations Astrid on being back with Calico Crafts, this is an awesome project.
Yvonne xx

Anonymous said...

Many, many congratulations Astrid, on being back on the team again at Calico! What fabulous news.

I LOVE this project (above) and ADORE the effect you achieved with the keys and hinges. Thrilled that you've shown us step by step how you got this affect because I'm now wanting to try it out. It couldn't be more perfect.
Really lovely post! ~ Cobs. x

Anjas-Artefaktotum said...

Stunning transformation, I love the textures and colors, the key and other embellies look grandiose. great project!
Big hugs Anja

rachel said...

stunning make Astrid - such wonderful colour and texture - beautiful! Congrats on the DT too! Hugs rachel x

Gayle Price said...

This is amazing....I love how you have created heavy rusted metal out of cardboard, brilliant !

maria's knutselplezier said...

Woooow, what a stunning project (again!!) love all the details , great rust effects!! I really love it!!!

Greetings
Maria

Scrumplescrunch said...

Hello Astrid,
This looks amazing with all the texture and rusting.
Smiles:)
Sue

Diana Taylor said...

Wow, what a stunning project - I love the ageing techniques you've used - the keys look like real old rusty ones - just amazing! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog earlier - I hope you have a happy week.

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

Thanks for sharing all those wonderful techniques. Your box rocks. Congrats on being back on the Calico Crafts team!

Hugs,
Linda

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Lovely Astrid, wonderful texture and rustic feel. Love the verdigris/rust elements too. Hugs. Tracy x

Jackie PN said...

Wow! So cool Astrid!! I love that you shared those steps- the book looks so aged!! How ever did you get the cobwebs on the key?
Hip hip horray that Calico Crafts is back!! good for them- good for us all! xo

Pamellia said...

Just brilliant Astrid!! I am loving every bit of this one and what a treat to get to see your entire process! Pinned and bookmarked so I can come back and visit for inspiration! YEP, added a bunch of new products to my wish list again today! Might have to take out a second mortgage! lol, hugs :)

Dorthe said...

Astrid, what can I say !!! Nothing else than AMAZING !!!
The box is altered to perfection and with a wonderful texture, and the keys and heart frame, looks gorgeous, like having been digged out of the dirt.
Beautiful, dear !!
Dorthe, xoxo

Tamara said...

Astrid, your box is rich with beautiful colours and textures. Those are some of my favorite colors and you've inspired me to use some old sewing patterns for added texture! Thank you and best wishes for your week.

Tamara <3

P.S. I noticed that you're my newest follower. Thank you! I feel honored to have you joining me in my creative journey.

pearshapedcrafting said...

This is the MOST incredible work of art! I love all the rustiness and those gorgeous textures and colours! Chrisx

Unknown said...

Oh my gracious Astrid - you are just amazing... this is INCREDIBLE. As always... I just adore everything you make. Wow. Wow. Wow. When I grow up I want to be like you! j.

Ros Crawford said...

What wonderful news!! And what a beautiful project to start off the new venture ... Amazing transformation!

Fuchsia said...

its fantastic love the style !
thanks for the info on calico crafts plus congratulations Astrid x

Redanne said...

How did I miss this one! I am so thrilled that Calico are back and it is great to know that you are still on the DT too! This piece is a work of art Astrid, you made those keys look positively ancient and I love the treatment you gave the cover, especially the the spine, it looks amazing. Hugs, Anne xx

Terry said...

Absolutely amazing and no surprise that you would be back on the team! Congratulations! Love this project and again your colors and texture are amazing! Love it!

kolina said...

this is amazing <3

Paper Creations by Shirley said...


Gorgeous project with so much wonderful texture. Also another fantastic tutorial. I'm catching up as I was away. Take care, Shirleyxx

Marisa Job said...

Wow! This is stunning!! Love the texture and colors!

Words and Pictures said...

Absolutely love this - what a fantastic way to celebrate the reincarnation of Calico! The tissue texture makes a wonderful base, and I love what you've done with the linen ribbon to create that aged book spine. Fab use of the hearts sheet too - altogether gorgeous.
Alison xx

Ruth said...

Just fabulous! Wonderful texture and love the new 'parts' you've used....wonderfully rusted and aged. Delighted they do birch plywood for encaustic work...only place I could find some! Ruth xx

Marjie Kemper said...

What wonderful news, that their business is rebuilding, Astrid! Such a gorgeous project you've created to spread the news.

Jenny Marples said...

The texture and ageing is quite outstanding Astrid! Depth in colour, detail in the ageing, and overall a box to be proud of. Jenny x

whyducks said...

Lovely work

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